Guy rejected me but is acting jealous?

Anonymous
i liked this guy for a few months and due to so many people saying it was obvious he felt the same and we got close over this time, i assumed he liked me too, just wasn’t saying anything. my friend finally asked him and he told her no he doesn’t, but he considers me a close friend. the past few days we’ve worked together it’s been a little weird bc i feel uncomfortable but i’m still being myself with him i think.

today he came to tell me something that was more like just an excuse to talk, and when i responded kind of bluntly, went to my friend saying i’m being “meaner than usual” (we play-argue all the time) but in reality i just don’t see him through rose-colored lenses anymore and i might not laugh at everything he says anymore bc i was smitten lol

while they were talking, he saw me and my other guy coworker joking and laughing, and my friend said he looked sad and in thought and tried to hide it when he looked back at her. my friend told him i handled the rejection well, and i’m fine, but he keeps talking about me to her.

i feel like after all these months he just liked the attention i was giving him and took advantage of the fact he knew i liked him. i still want to be friends with him but I don't know what’s going on and i definitely don’t want to just be an ego-boost for him. can anyone give me direction on what might be going through his head?
Guy rejected me but is acting jealous?
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